Members of both the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury and Birmingham Districts are invited to join a “pilgrim community” of up to 12 people this Easter week on a route largely based in the Telford Circuit.  During this six day experience, we will walk, pray and eat together and share sleeping space in a number of Methodist Churches.  Luggage (including your airbed / camp-bed and bedding) will be transferred each day.  Mileage will be between around 8 to 10 miles, taken at a gentle pace on rural routes that may include stiles.  We share cooking within the group.  

This is now a “tried and tested” formula which has been greatly appreciated by previous pilgrims.  Being willing to be part of a short-term community is far more important than being super-fit, providing you can manage a modest amount of walking over a number of consecutive days, followed by nights on a church floor!  The pilgrimage will be led by a small team of previous pilgrims, including Rachel Parkinson, Chair of Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District.  

If means allow, we suggest a contribution of £140 to the kitty to cover food, accommodation and luggage transfer.

Unfortunately, the living arrangements mean we cannot include children and young people, though they will be welcome to join us as accompanied day walkers (details later).

The gathering point will be close to Wellington Station on the early evening of Monday 1st April.  The departure point will be Shrewsbury Station on the late afternoon of Saturday 6th April.
If you are interested in joining the group this year, please don’t delay - contact Richard Lockley in the W&S District Office: admin@wsmethodist.org.uk   

There will be a briefing for pilgrims on Zoom on Thursday 14th March at 7pm
 

The Rev’d Margaret Eales has decided to step down from her role as Secretary to the Representative Session of Synod.  The District is so grateful to Margaret for her generosity in stepping into this position and for all that she has contributed in the last 18 months.  The Assistant Secretary, Rev’d George Heinz, will be taking the lead in arrangements for the Spring session to be held in person at Oswestry Methodist Church on 20th April.
 

Education and outreach
The charitable trust has established an educational sub-group. Now the memorial has been funded and installed, they are beginning to work on a strategy to support their educational aims.
Prior to the pandemic, members of the group had worked with some local schools to test out some approaches to this work.
They aim to encourage children to develop empathy for civilians caught up in wars and to express their feelings about this using a variety of techniques.

There is a sensitive balance to be struck between raising awareness that war is not like a video game, but involves much human suffering on the one hand, and not unduly distressing the youngsters, on the other.
Pity of War is a charitable trust whose aim is to raise awareness of the impact of war on civilians.
Sadly, as we are currently seeing in Syria, Ukraine, Yemen, Gaza and other parts of the world, civilians are bearing a heavy load from the many wars currently active.
Pity of War has two aims:
• to publicise the recently installed two-metre high monument to the memory of civilian victims of war at the National Memorial Arboretum.
• to find and host resources to help educate people, especially children and young people, about the impact of war on civilians.
More information on our website:-pityofwar.org 
 
 ‘Pity of War’
         Ludlow Methodist Church
      52, Broad Street, SY8 1NH
            18th to 23^rd March
            10.30am to 1.30pm

Part-time, home-based

10 hours/week, starting salary £15/hour (£27,300 pro rata)
Apply using our application form below
 
Are you a great communicator with excellent English, experience and knowledge of website design and social media platforms? We are seeking someone who can identify a good news story to promote digitally. You will manage our social media feeds, help to replace the current Synod website with an iChurch website (based on WordPress). We need someone with initiative to gather news from various church sources and colleagues and who will take responsibility for a monthly Synod e-newsletter. You will liaise with Synod Officers, local church contacts and the United Reformed Church Communications team.
 
Application deadline: Thursday 21 March 2024
Shortlisting: Tuesday 26 March 2024
Interviews: Tuesday 16 April 2024
 
If you have any questions, or would like the information to be emailed to you, please contact Lindsay Peniston at the Synod Office on 0121 783 1177 or by email to moderatorspa@urcwestmidlands.org.uk (Mon-Thurs, 9am-4pm).
 
Terms and conditions
The hours may be worked flexibly but will necessarily include some evening and weekend working. The post will be home based, but some attendance at the Synod Office will be necessary. The successful postholder will have the right to live and work in the UK.
 
Suitable IT hardware and software will be provided by the Synod.
Administrative and secretarial support is provided at the Synod Office.

• Download the job description and person specification
• Download the application form
• Download this advert (A4 Word doc)

 
West Midlands Synod Office, Digbeth-in-the-Field URC, Moat Lane, Yardley, Birmingham B25 1TW
Tel: 0121 783 1177. https://www.urcwestmidlands.org.uk
 
 

Full time (36 hours per week)
 
We are seeking an experienced administrator to join our fantastic Registry team.
The postholder will be handling enquiries and administration within our Registry team, for two of our five Centres, Centre for Black Theology (CBT) and Centre for Discipleship and Theology (CDT).
A good knowledge and experience of Black Majority Churches (BMC), especially Black Pentecostal churches, will be essential to support the work of CBT, particularly for handling admissions and registry process for students from BMCs. Knowledge and experience of online learning will be valuable in supporting the work of CDT. Both Centres will require pre-planned evening and weekend work from time to time.
As well as working closely with the two Centre Directors, the postholder will be responsible to the Registry Manager. Registry work will include carrying out administrative tasks using our virtual learning environment (Moodle) and our database, to create and maintain accurate student records and support assessment and marking processes.
The ideal candidate will therefore need strong administrative experience, preferably in a higher education setting.
Full details can be found on the Queen’s website at:
Registry Administrator - The Queen's Foundation (queens.ac.uk)
 
Closing date for applications is Monday 11^th March 2024.
 

St Peter’s Saltley Trust offers funding and support for creative projects in Christian learning/discipleship and religious education.  Come and hear about our new grass-roots grant opportunities, and help shape our new programme of discipleship projects by telling us what you think helps people go deeper in their everyday walk with God.  Meet us at the following times/places, and we’ll buy you a coffee (or similar)! 
 
*             Wed 13 March, 10-12 - Café Rosa, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1EQ
 
*             Wed 24 April, 10-12 - Hummingbird Cafe, Meeting Point House Telford TF3 4HS
 
Open to anyone - not just church leaders/ministers.
 
No need to book, but dropping us an email would help us know who to expect. Look out for the Saltley Trust logo when you arrive.  Contact Ian Jones (director@saltleytrust.org.uk) <mailto:(director@saltleytrust.org.uk)> 
 
 
Ian Jones
Director, St Peter's Saltley Trust
director@saltleytrust.org.uk
 
 

The Methodist Church has recently launched a new candidating process.  Now is the time for anyone who is beginning to discern a call to ordained ministry to apply for ‘Discerning Ordained Vocation 1’ (DOV1).
The application period is from January 1 to March 31.

Full information about the new process is available here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/ministries/candidating-for-ministry/candidating-process/

The process begins with a period of accompanied discernment as applicants discover God’s calling for themselves. It involves working with an accompanist, deep discernment on a facilitated retreat, and then meeting with an Advisory Group. 
 

Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB) will be hosting their Swanwick Conference 2024 from
Friday, April 19th to Sunday, April 21st.
The conference theme is “Words Create Worlds”.
It will take place at The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick.

•  Cost: Full board option is priced at £185, and there’s also a Zoom-only option for £40.
• Bursaries: Bursaries are available, and interested participants can apply for them.
• Booking: Booking opens on January 15, 2024 on the MWiB website.

 
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to book your place and be part of this inspiring gathering! More information about the conference can be found on the MWiB website. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect, learn, and create meaningful conversations with fellow participants.
 
However, there is the opportunity for one person from our District to go for free if they have never been before.  Contact Liz Moore (01922 421333) before March 10^th if you are interested.

Final MWiB District Thanksgiving Service
A final MWiB District Thanksgiving Service is to be held at Springdale Methodist Church, Penn WV4 4LF on Tuesday 16th April 10.30am to 3.15pm:
Service at 11 am led by Rev. Rachel Parkinson
Please bring packed lunch Drinks provided
1.30pm - Happy District Memories Please bring your stories and photos
 

Full-time (36 hours per week, may be negotiable), Permanent
 
We are seeking an experienced Facilities Manager to join our Professional Services team.
The right person will have strong experience in a similar role and have sound knowledge of statutory Health and Safety requirements as applicable to a substantial, multi-use site which includes residential accommodation for staff and students, teaching and dining facilities, and office accommodation.  Working for the Campus Manager, they will take the lead in ensuring that the Foundation’s Health and Safety policy and procedures are in line with good practice. They will manage (and develop as necessary) robust systems to ensure that the campus is a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors. They will hold either NEBOSH or an equivalent qualification.
 
Full details can be found on the Queen’s website at:
Facilities Manager - The Queen's Foundation (queens.ac.uk)
 
Closing date for applications is Thursday 7^th March 2024.
 

Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District - The Methodist Church

Add us to your address book